Times like these remind us how much we love our children

Useful Information

If you ever need FREE moving boxes, you can get up to 500 with USPS.  And they deliver them to your house!  This photo is only 1/4 of them (I'm not kidding). 

David was so proud of his accomplishment.  But...

When we realized we were not going to need 500 BOXES, we decided to take them back to the post office.  It took him FOUR flat bed cart loads to get them inside!  The lady working there said, "Wow!  That IS a lot of boxes."  David replied with, "Yeah, my wife just got a little crazy with ordering them." 

Thanks, Honey.

It's December 1st...

..time for a new post!  But, it will have to wait until tomorrow....

It's a BIRD, it's a PLANE, it's...

just a big cardboard box.  

David changed out someone's dishwasher, so we were left with a fun box to play with.  I had big plans for this box for the kids to play with.  They could use their imagination and make it into ANYTHING.  We just read a book where a little boy made it into a spaceship, so I thought they might go with that idea.  Nope.  What about a fun tunnel to hide, eat snacks and have a 'secret' passageway out the back?  Denied.  A house?  No.  A barn (they are always pretending to be animals?) No way.

Spencer's reaction:  run as far away from the box.  It scared him. Only until I crawled through it did he.  Once.  Then, he jumped on top of it.

Ashlyn's reaction:  Why do we have Daddy's box inside?  Why did you throw away the trash inside it?  Why are you cutting a hole in it?  (Sound familiar?)

Kylie's:  What are we supposed to do with this?  I gladly gave her my ideas then she proceeded to write her spelling words on it, every name in our family and a story. 

So, what does this all mean?  I have no idea.  We need to bring more big boxes in the house, I suppose.

Happy 40th, Mom and Dad!

All nine children pulled together to devise a surprise party for this lovely couple. 

 

And we actually pulled it off (with a few bumps on the way)!  They were actually surprised!  

It was so fun full of their favorite food, games, people and photos.  My mom won a hula-hoop contest years ago, so that had to be a part of the fun.  And guess what?  She won again!  

Spencer and Peter were tough competition.   

And, Katy, I'm sorry, but I already forgot the hula-hoop lessons we received - I need more practice.

(And maybe one day we will actually learn how to use our camera and get crisper pictures.  Maybe by their 50th.)

One word

Amazing!

To explain the picture, can't keep it to one word.  David's sister and her husband adopted 3 children and they already have 3 of their own.  What's the best word to describe this?  Amazing.  If anyone would have the courage and love to do this, it is them.  We are excited to get to know our new nieces and nephews and cousins!

Sweet 6

A way over due post, but our sweet Kylie turned the "sweet 6" in August (and, in case you are wondering, in our eyes, she'll never be old enough for it to be her "sweet sixteen" birthday).

She never ceases to amaze us with her curiosity, kindness and cleverness. She is always processing information - noticing relationships, cause/effects and conclusions. You can't hide anything from this girl. Her memory is beyond sharp. She is a great little mommy, big sister and friend. She will never pass up a snuggle and pushes her bedtime further and further back. She complains about doing homework, but once started, it is hard to pull her away from it. Her reading skills have flourished quickly, I think it is due to scripture reading every night.

She loves to work outside with daddy and get greasy. She always has a question to ask (sound like anyone?). She has quite the appetite and can eat more than David, but has all the energy to work it off. Dancing is one of her favorite pastimes. Crank that music up and she is good to go! Drawing and writing also make it on that list. I love getting her notes and drawings that say the same thing every time "I love you Mommy. You are the dest (she still gets her 'd's and 'b's messed up sometimes) mommy ever." Then she'll draw a picture of her and I. The drawings are more detailed each time, sometimes with the color, other times with the technique. She loves being with her family whether it be just us or her cousins, grandparents or aunts/uncles - she loves it ALL!

We love her and will keep her FOREVER!